Rental locker system

ABSTRACT

A rental locker system rendered lockable by dropping a required number of coins in the locker, comprises a slidable plate operated by the coins for unlocking the locker, a coin number setting plate which, upon unlocking, displaces the slidable plate to prevent the locker from being locked, and an operating lever engaged with the coin number setting plate at a predetermined engaging position, whereby the number of coins required for a rental period can be easily changed by changing the predetermined engaging position. The rental locker system may be further provided with an improved means for retaining coins temporarily for subsequently checking the correctness of the number.

iliiiie iaies Pteiii 1191 Kinoshita Get. 15, 1974 1 RENTAL LOCKER SYSTEMPrimary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves [7 5] Inventor. Yoshio Kmoslnta,1-11me 1, Japan Assistant Examiner joseph J. Rona [73] Assignee: GloryKogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & StemHyogo-Ken, Japan 22 Filed: Feb. 23, 1973 1571 ABSTRACT A rental lockersystem rendered lockable by dropping [211 App! 335160 a required numberof coins in the locker, comprises a slidable plate operated by the coinsfor unlocking the [30] Foreign Application fiiority Data locker, a coinnumber setting plate which, upon un- Fcb.24, 1972 Japan 47-19110 lockingdisplaces the Slidable Plate Prawnt the locker from being locked, and anoperating lever en- 52 us. c1 194/92, 194/45, 194/51 gaged with the Coinnumber Setting P1819 at a P [51] llnt. Cl. (307i 5/00 termined engagingPosition whereby the number of [58] Field of Search 194/18, 19, 32, 45,51 Coins required for a rental Period can be easily changed by changingthe predetermined engaging po- 5 References Cited sition. The rentallocker system may be further pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided with animproved means for retaining coins temporarily for subsequently checkingthe correctness of 2,991,866 7/1961 James et al. 194/51 X the number3,050,169 8/1962 Stackhouse 194/19 3,460,662 8/1969 Kinoshita 194/51 13Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB 1 51974 3,841.458

saw 30F 11 RENTAL LOCKER SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to coin-operated rental locker systems, andmore particularly to a type thereof including a coin number settingmechanism which is advantageously operable when the number of coinscorresponding to a rental period is to be changed, and a coin retainingdevice for temporarily storing the coins.

In most of the rental lockers heretofore proposed, if the number ofcoins required for the rent of a locker for a rental period is to bechanged, for instance, for an economical reason, the coin receivingsystem of the rental locker must be replaced entirely or at least partlyby a new assembly or a new part of assembly, such a feature constitutinga fundamental drawback of the conventional rental lockers.

Furthermore, in most of the conventional rental lockers, the coinsdropped into the rental locker have been stored temporarily in a coinretaining device so that a subsequent examination of the coins is madepossible for correcting erroneous payment of coins.

However, the coins thus stored in the retaining device in theconventional rental locker have been aligned in their diametricaldirection rather than being stacked in their thicknesswise direction.For this reason, a much elongated chamber has been required in suchconventional rental lockers, especially when the size of the lockerbecomes large, and the number of coins required for the rental charge iscomparatively large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is toprovide an improved rental locker system including a coin number settingmechanism, whereby the number of coins required for the rent of a rentalperiod can be changed without requiring the total or a partial replacement of the coin receiving mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rental lockerincluding a coin number setting mechanism wherein the number of coinsrequired for a rental period can be preset by a simple procedure ofmerely changing the position of a coin number setting Still anotherobject of this invention is to provide an improved rental lockerincluding a coin retaining mechanism whereby coins are retained forpredetermined period in a chamber of a comparatively minimized size.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved rentallocker including a coin retaining mechanism wherein the coins areretained temporarily in a stacked state in their thicknesswisedirection.

These and other objects of the invention can be achieved by an improvedrental locker system which, in one aspect of the invention, comprises aslidable plate which is operated by coins dropped into the locker forallowing a locking mechanism to assume a lockable state, a coin numbersetting plate which, upon unlocking of the rental locker, displaces theslidable plate in a direction to prevent locking movement of the lockinglever, and an operating lever disposed between the coin number settingplate and the slidable plate in such a manner that the engaging positionbetween the coin number setting plate and the operating lever can bepreset as desired, whereby the number of coins per unit length of therental period can be changed to any desired value.

In another aspect of the invention, the rental locker further comprisesan indication plate operating cooperatively with the operating lever forindicating the number of coins required to be dropped into the rentallocker.

In still another aspect of the invention, the rental locker of the abovedescribed construction further comprises means for temporarily retainingcoins disposed in connection with a coin passage, through which thecoins dropped into the locker are introduced through a coin detectingmeans into the coin retaining means so that the coins are stacked in thecoin retaining means in the thicknesswise direction of coins, and meansfor opening the lower end of the coin retaining means temporarily whilethe rental locker is unlocked.

The nature, principle, and utility of the present invention will be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description of theinvention with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof when read inconjunction of the accompanying drawings'wherein like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view schematically showing a rental lockerconstituting a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of the rental locker inthe locked state;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of the rental lockerwherein the number of coins corresponding to the minimum rental fee ofthe rental locker is preset to three; and

FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram of the electrical system of therental locker shown in FIG. I.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is illustrated acoin passage 1 extended vertically from a coin inlet (not shown) througha coin detecting mechanism. On one side of the passage 1, a coindetecting lever 2 is swingably supported on a supporting pin 3. The coindetecting lever 2 has a coin detecting portion 4 formed along a loweredge thereof, and a weight 5 is attached thereto so that the coindetecting lever 2 is maintained at a position having the coin detectingportion 4 projecting into the coin passage 1.

Thus, when a coin is introduced through the coin inlet into the coinpassage 1, the coin pushes the coin detecting portion 4 of the coindetecting lever 2 laterally, so that the lever 2 is rotated slightlyaround its supporting pin 3 against the force of gravity acting on theweight 5, whereby the coin is allowed to pass through the coin passage1.

The coin detecting lever 2 is also provided with catch-like projections6 and 7 in the upper and lower parts thereof.

A slidable plate 8 is extends parallelly with the coin passage 1 on oneside thereof, and two longitudinal guiding slots 9, 9, each engagingwith a pin 10, are provided in the slidable plate 8. One side edge ofthe slidable plate 8 facing the coin passage 1 is formed with rack teeth13 each including a horizontally extending step portion 11 and aninclined edge portion 12. Each time the coin detecting lever 2 detects acoin passing through the coin passage 1, the slidable plate 8 iselevated by a distance corresponding to one pitch of the rack teeth 13by the catch-like projections 6 and 7 of the coin detecting lever 2. Abent flange portion 15 is formed at the upper end of the slidable plate8, and another bent portion 14 is provided near the lower end of thelever 2.

An indicator operating lever 16 is also provided in the mechanism. Theindicator operating lever 16 is pivotally supported by a pivotal shaft17 located approximately at the middle point thereof. A pin 18 engagingwith the lower bent portion 14 of the slidable plate 8 is provided atone end of this indicator operating lever 16, while on the other end ofthe lever 16, a pin 19' is provided. A bent portion 21 formed at thelower end of an indicating plate 20 presses against this pin 19 underthe gravitational force acting on the indicating plate 211.

The weight of the indicating plate 211 is made less than that of theslidable plate 8. Numerical figures are inscribed on the indicatingplate 21) at equally spaced intervals successively from the bottomupward, so that each of the figures is indicated through the window 23formed in the front panel 22 of the locker.

A lock control lever 25 is swingably supported on a supporting shaft 26,and the center of gravity of the lock control lever 25 is offset fromthe supporting shaft 26. One end of the lock control lever 25 is formedinto a bent portion 27 to be engaged with the hereinbefore describedbent portion 15 of the slidable plate 8, and the upwardly rising edge ofthe lever 25 in the same arm: thereof as the bent portion 27 is causedto stop against a stopping pin 28.

The other end of the lock control lever (hereinafter simply termedcontrol lever) 25 is adapted to be engaged with a blocking lever 31)which is coupled with a latch member 29 mounted coaxially on a rotatingportion 32 of a cylinder lock 31 provided adjacent the front panel 22 ofthe rental locker. When the blocking lever is disengaged from the lever25, the latch member 29 is allowed to be moved in and out of a slit 33provided in the door of the rental locker, whereby the door can belocked or unlocked with the main body of the rental locker. Furthermore,it is so arranged that a key (not shown) is allowed to be pulled out ofthe cylinder lock 31 only after the cylinder lock 31 has been locked.

A swingable plate 36 swingable about a pivotal shaft 35 is provided toabut against a bar 34 which is moved toward or away from the swingableplate 36 upon insertion and removal of the key in and out of thecylinder lock 31, and an electric switch 37 is provided in such a mannerthat it is operated by the swingable plate 36 when the key is insertedinto the cylinder lock 31. Another electric switch 41 is provided in theproximity of the cylinder lock 31 so that it is operated by a springextending between a pin 38 projected from the blocking lever 30 and astationary pin 39.

A coin number setting plate 46 having a plurality of coin number settingholes (three holes 43, 44, and in this example) is also disposed in thismechanism, and the coin number setting holes 43, 44, and 45 areselectively engaged with a coin number setting pin 42 implanted in theindicator operating lever 16 at a preset position. The coin numbersetting plate 46 is provided with a required number of vertical slots 48engaging with a corresponding number of stationary guide pins 47projecting from'the structural part of the mechanism, so that plate 46can move vertically.

On the leftward end, as viewed in FIG. 1, of the coin number settingplate 46, there are provided rack teeth 50 aligned parallelly with themovable direction of the plate 46. The rack teeth 50 may be engaged witha pin 5'1 provided on a cam plate 52 rigidly coupled to a rotatablyshaft 54. The shaft 54 is driven in the counterclockwise direction by anelectric motor 53 via a train of gear wheels (not shown). When the camplate 52 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction to a predeterminedposition, it operates still another electric switch 55.

Below the lever opening of the coin passage 1, there is provided a coinretaining tube 56 with opened upper and lower ends. At the lower openingof the coin retaining tube 56, a horizontally swingable cover plate 57is provided. More specifically, the cover plate 57 has a portionpivotally supported by a pivot pin 60 vertically extending through astructural member 59 of the coin locker so that the cover is freelyswingable in a horizontal plane. A pin (not shown) is also provided onthe structural portion 59, and a coil spring (not shown) extends betweenthe pin and the cover 57. Thus, the cover 57 is ordinarily urged underthe action of this coil spring in a manner such that the side edge ofthe cover 57 abuts against another projection (not shown), and the loweropening of the tube 56 is thereby closed.

The cover 57 is also provided with a sidewisely projecting portion 61. Alever 63 having an end 62 thereof to abut against the projecting portion61 of the cover 57 is rockably supported by a horizontal pin 64. Whenthe other end 62a of the lever 63 is activated by the cam 52, the otherend 62 of the lever 63 presses against the projecting portion 61 of thecover 57, whereby the cover 57 is swung open against the resilient forceof the coil spring (not shown).

An electrical circuit provided in the above described example of thecoin number setting device according to the present invention will nowbe described with reference to FIG. 4.

The positive terminal 83 of a dc. source is connected to a timer switch65, and a normally closed contact 66 of the timer switch is furtherconnected through a rectifying element 67 to the electric switch 41which is operated by the blocking lever 30 rotated integrally with thelocking lever 29. The normally opened contact 68 of the timer switch 65is connected through another rectifying element 69 to the normallyclosed contact 71 of the switch 41 and also to the normally openedcontact of the switch 55 operated by the cam 52.

Furthermore, the normally opened contact 72 of the switch 41 isconnected to the normally opened contact 73 of the switch 37 operated bythe insertion or removal of the key. The common contact of the switch 37is further connected to the normally closed contact 74 of the switch 55operated by the cam plate 52. The switch 55 is connected through a coil76 of a relay to the negative terminal 77 of the dc. power source.

The positive terminal 83 of the dc. power source is also connected to anormally opened contact 79 of the relay 75, and a common contact 78 ofthe relay 75 is further connected through the motor 53 to the negativeterminal 77. Between a normally closed contact 80 of the relay 75 andthe negative terminal 77, a resistor 81 is connected.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention will now be describedin detail.

A. In the case where the rental charge for a period of usage oftherental locker is equivalent to one coin, the coin number setting pin42 is set in the rightward end position, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, ofthe indicator operating lever 16, and this pin 42 is brought intoengagement with the coin number setting hole 13 of the coin numbersetting plate 46.

Then, the slidable plate 8 is manually pushed up until the indicatingplate shows the figure 1 inscribed thereon through the window 23, andthe rental locker is now prepared for the rental use.

a. When it is desired to use the rental locker, the user drops a coininto the coin slot. As the coin 82 advances along the coin passage 1, itpushes aside the coin detecting portion 4 of the coin detecting lever 2,whereby the lever 2 is rotated counterclockwisely thereby to disengagethe upper catch-like projection 6 from the stepped portion 11 of a racktooth 13 and to cause the lower catchlike projection 7 to engage thestep portion 11 of another rack tooth 13.

After the coin has passed through the passage 1, the coin detectinglever 2 is rotated clockwise under gravity acting on the weight 5, andthe catch-like projection 7 is thereby disengaged from the rack tooth 13and the catch-like projection 6 is brought into engagement with anotherrack tooth 13. As a result, the slidable plate 8 descends under its ownweight by a distance corresponding to one pitch length of the rack teeth13.

Thus, through the engagement of the pin 18 on the indicator operatinglever 16 with the bent portion 14 of the slidable plate 8, the indicatoroperating lever 16 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the pin 19on the operating lever 16 pushes up the bent portion 21 of theindicating plate 20. Thus, the indicating plate 20 is brought up by onestep whereby (1" is indicated in the window 23.

Simultaneous with the aboved described operation, the control lever 25is rotated clockwisely as shown in H0. 2, and the control lever 25disengages from the blocking lever 30. The latch member 29 is thus readyto be rotated around its axis. When the cylinder lock 31 is operated bymeans of a key, the latch member 29 is swung about its axis, and thedoor of the rental locker is thereby locked.

The coin 82 passed through the coin passage 1 falls into the coinretaining tube 56 and deposited on the swingable cover plate 57.

Furthermore, under the rotation of the indicator operating lever 16, thecoin number setting plate 46 is lowered through the engagement of thecoin number setting pin 42 and the coin number setting hole 43, and theuppermost tooth 50a of the rack 50 formed on the coin number settingplate 46 is brought into the operable range of the pin 51 provided onthe cam plate 52.

When the rental locker is locked as described above, the normally openedcontact 72 of the switch 41 is closed by the blocking lever 30, and alsothe normally opened contact 73 of the switch 37 is closed by theinsertion of the key. As a result, a circuit passing through thenormally closed contact 66 of the timer switch 65, the rectifyingelement 67, the normally opened contact 72 of the switch 41, thenormally opened contact 73 of the switch 37, and the coil 76 of therelay 75 is closed, with simultaneous closure of the normally openedcontact 79 and the common contact 78, whereby the electric motor 53 isstarted.

When the electric motor 53 operates, the cam plate 52 is rotated.However, prior to the actual engagement of the pin 51 on the cam plate52 with the uppermost tooth 50a of the rack 51) provided on the coinnumber setting plate 46, the cam plate 52 operates the switch 55 so thatthe normally closed contact 74 is not opened, deenergizing the relaycoil 76, whereby the common contact 78 of the relay 75 is switched tothe position shown in FIG. 4, and the electric motor 53 is stopped. Therental locker is maintained in this condition while it is used.

b. When the rental locker is now to be opened within the rental period,since the slidable plate 8 is now held in its lowermost position, thecontrol lever 25 has been released from its engagement with the blockinglever 30, whereby the rental locker can be opened by simply using thekey.

When the locker is opened, the relay circuit passing through the timerswitch 65, the rectifying element 67, the normally closed contact 71 ofthe switch 41, the normally opening contact of the switch 55, and thecoil 76 of the relay 75, is closed, and the electric motor 53 isoperated again.

The pin 51 on the cam plate 52 is now brought into engagement with theuppermost tooth 50a of the rack 50 on the coin number setting plate 46,whereby the plate 46 is brought up together with the pin 42 provided onthe indicator operating lever 16. As a result, the lever 16 is rotatedin the counterclockwise direction, and the pin 18 provided thereonpushes the slidable plate 8 upward. The upward movement of the slidableplate 8, releases the engagement of the catch-like projection 6 of thecoin detecting lever 2, whereby the projection 6 is shifted along theinclined edge portion 12 to the lower step 11.

Simultaneous therewith, the counterclockwise rotation of the indicatoroperating lever 16 lowers the indicator 20 through the engagement of thepin 19 and the bent portion 21 of the indicator 20, and the digit l isdisplayed in the window 23.

Furthermore, after the rotation of the indicator operating lever 16, thecam plate 52 is further rotated until it operates the switch 55 so thatthe normally closed contact of the switch 55 is closed and the normallyopened contact 71) thereof is opened. At this instant, the key is seizedin the cylinder lock 31, and the normally opened contact 72 of theswitch 41 is opened. The relay 75 is thereby deenergized, and thenormally opened contact 79 is disengaged from the common contact 78,whereby the electric motor 53 is stopped.

While the slidable plate 8 is elevated as described above and thecontrol lever 25 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction bygravitational force acting thereon, the control lever 25 engages theblocking lever 30, whereby the locking movement of the latch member 29is blocked by the blocking lever 30.

Furthermore, during the above described elevation of the coin numbersetting plate 46, the rotation of the cam plate 52 causes the projectedportion thereof to abut against the end 62a of the lever 63, whereby thelever 63 is rotated in the clockwise direction, and the other end 62 ofthe lever 63 opens the cover 57 at the bottom of the retaining tube 56against the force of the coil spring (not shown). The lower end of thecoin retaining tube 56 is thus opened, and the coins stored in the tube56 are delivered.

c. When the rental locker is used past 6 oclock, midnight, the timerswitch 65 is operated, whereby the nor mally closed contact 66 thereofis opened, and the normally opened contact 68 is closed. Thus, a circuitconsisting of the now closed normally opened contact 68 of the timerswitch 65, one rectifying element 69, now closed contact 70 of the camoperated switch 55, and the relay coil 76 is established, and theelectric motor 53 is operated. Thereupon the pin 51 of the cam plate 52engages the uppermost tooth 50a of the rack 50, whereby the coin numbersetting plate 46 is elevated, and the indicator operating lever 16 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction.

According, the slidable plate 8 is elevated and held in the elevatedposition by means of the coin detecting lever 2. Simultaneous therewith,the indicator plate 20 is lowered, displaying the digit l in the window23, and the rotation of the latch member 29 in the unlocking directionis prevented by the engagement of the blocking lever 30 with the controllever 25, whereby the unlocking of the cylinder lock 31 by the mereemployment of a key is prevented.

Further rotation of the cam plate 52 operation the cam switch 55 to openthe normally opened contact 70 thereof, and the electric motor 53 isthereby stopped.

After a predetermined period, the timer switch 65 stops its operation,and the normally closing contact 66 is now closed. As a result, acircuit consisting of the normally closed contact 66, the rectifyingelement 67, the switch 41, the key-operated switch 37, and the normallyclosed contact 74 of the cam switch 55, and the relay coil 76 isestablished, and the electric motor 53 is again started. Thus thecam-operated switch 55 is soon operated just before the pin 51 on thecam plate 52 engages the succeeding tooth 50b of the rack 50, and theelectric motor 53 is stopped.

During the above described operation, coins stored in the coin retainingtube 56 are delivered under the action of the cam-operated lever 62.

When another unit rental period passes, the indicator plate 20 isfurther lowered so that the digit 2 is displayed in the window 23. Atthis instant, the lowest tooth 50c of the rack teeth 50 on the coinnumber setting plate 46 is brought into the engageable range of the pin51 on the cam plate 52. Whenever a further unit rental period passes,the above described operation is repeated, and the digit 3 will bedisplayed in the window 23.

d. When one wishes to open the rental locker thus used in excess of therental period, coins corresponding to the figure indicated in the window23 are dropped into the coin inlet. Each time the coins are detected bythe coin detecting lever 2, the slidable plate 8 and the indicatoroperating lever 16 are operated as described hereinbefore, whereby theindicator plate 20 is thereby successively elevated. Furthermore, thecoin number setting plate 46 is lowered by the descent of one end of theindicator operating lever 16 caused by the lowering of the slidableplate 8 in such a manner that a still higher tooth in the teeth portion50 is brought into the engageable range of the pin 51.

Finally, when the digit 0 is displayed through the window 23, theengagement between the control lever 25 and the blocking lever 30 isbroken, and the latch member 29 intercoupled with the cylinder lock 31can be unlocked by the use of a key.

When the latch member-29 is unlocked, the electric motor 53 is operatedas described above, whereby the cam plate $2, the coin number settingplate 46, and the indicator operating lever 16 are successively operatedin this order, and the indicator plate 20 is thereby shifted to display1 through the window 23. Simultaneous therewith, the control lever 25 iscaused to engage the blocking lever 30 through the movement of theslidable plate 8, and the locking movement of the latch member 29 isthereby prevented. As described above, the coin required to unlock themechanism is once deposited in the coin retaining tube 56, and thendelivered upon the rotation of the cam plate 52 at the time the coinnumber setting 46 is elevated.

B. When the rental charge of the locker for a rental period correspondsto two coins, the pin 42 provided on the indicator operating lever 16 isdisplaced to a sec ond position, wherein the pin 42 is engaged with thesecond coin number setting hole 44 provided intermediately of the coinnumber setting plate 46. The slidable plate 8 is then manually pushed upto a position where the second tooth of the rack 13 engages with thecatchlike projection 6 of the coin detecting lever 2. In this case, thedigit 2 is displayed in the window 23.

a. When it is desired to use the rental locker of the above describedconstruction, two coins are inserted into the coin inlet leading to thecoin passage 1 so that the slidable plate 8 is thereby lowered by twosteps and 0 is finally displayed in the window 23. In this condition,the locking mechanism of the rental locker is brought into a lockablestate as indicated in FIG. 2.

When the user closes the door of the locker and locks it by turning thekey, the motor 53 is operated as described before, and the cam plate 52is rotated to a position as indicated in FIG. 2, where the cam switch 55is disengaged and the electric motor 53 is stopped.

b. When the rental locker is to be opened within the rental period, theelectric motor 53 is started by the unlocking operation of the user,whereby the pin 51 on the cam plate 52 is brought into engagement withthe uppermost tooth 50a of the rack teeth 50 formed on the coin numbersetting plate 46, and the coin number setting plate 46 is elevated byone step. Thus, the slid able plate is elevated through the indicatoroperating lever 16 through a distance corresponding to two pitches ofthe rack 13 provided on the slidable plate 8. Thus, the digit 2 is againdisplayed in the window 23, and the locking movement of the latch member29 is prevented.

c. On the other hand, when the locker is used in'excess of the period,the cam plate 52 is rotated under the operation of the timer swtich 65,and the coin number setting plate 46 is elevated by one step by the pin51 engaging with the uppermost tooth 50a of the rack 50 so that theindicator plate 20 is lowered by two steps to display 2 in the window23. At the same time, the slidable plate 8 is elevated by two steps ofthe rack teeth 13 by the indicator operating lever 16 rotated throughthe engagement of the pin 42 with the hole 44 of the coin number settingplate 46.

It should be noted that the above described operation is repeated forevery passage of the rental period thereby to advance the pin 51 on thecam plate 52 to the subsequent teeth 50b and 500, and the slidable plate8 and the indicator plate 20 are advanced successively so that thedigits 4 and 6 are displayed sequentially.

d. When the locker is to be opened, coins of a number corresponding tothe figure indicated in the window 23 are dropped into the slot, so thatthe slidable plate 8 is lowered each time these coins are detected. Theindicator plate 20 is thus moved upward, and the figure indicated in thewindow 23 will also be reduced, When the digit is finally displayed inthe window 23, the rental locker will be ready to be opened. It shouldbe noted that the coin number setting plate 46 is now lowered to theposition where the uppermost tooth 50a of its rack 50 engages the pin 51on the cam plate 52.

When the rental locker is unlocked and the door thereof is opened, thecam plate 52 is again operated through the unlocking operation of theuser, and the coin number setting plate 46 is elevated by one stepthrough the engagement of the pin 51 and the rack tooth 50a.Consequently, the slidable plate 8 is elevated by two steps, and theindicator plate is lowered by two steps, displaying the digit 2 throughthe window 23.

C. When the rental charge of the locker for a rental period correspondsto three coins, the pin 42 provided on the indicator operating lever 16is replaced to still another position engageable with the third coinnumber setting hole 45 which is provided in the coin number settingplate 46 at a higher position than the hole 44. Simultaneous therewith,the slidable plate 8 is set as shown in FIG. 3 so that the catch-likeprojection 6 of the coin detecting lever 2 engages the third tooth ofthe rack 13 formed on the slidable plate 8, and the indicator plate 20is thereby lowered by two steps to indicate the digit 3 in the window23.

a. When the rental locker is to be used, three coins are dropped intothe slot, whereupon the coins are detected successively, and theslidable plate 8 is lowered by three steps of the rack 13, whereby theindicator plate 20 displays 0 through the window 23. Simultaneoustherewith, the latch member 29 is released and allowed to rotate in thelocking direction, and the electric motor 53 is operated to rotate thecam plate to a position where the cam plate 52 is just disengaged fromthe cam-operated switch 55, whereupon the electric motor 53 is stopped.

b. When the rental locker is to be opened within the rental period, theelectric motor 53 is again started by the locker-opening operation ofthe user, whereby the pin 51 on the cam plate 52 is brought intoengagement with the uppermost tooth 50a of the rack 50 formed on thecoin number setting plate 46, and the coin number setting plate 46 iselevated by one step. Thus, the slidable plate 8 is elevated for adistance corresponding to three pitches of the rack 13, whereby therotation of the latch member 29 into the locking direction is prevented,and the digit 3 is displayed in the window 23.

c. When the locker is used in excess of the rental period, the electricmotor 53 is again operated through the operation of the timer 65 therebyto rotate the cam plate 52 counterclockwisely, and the coin numbersetting plate 46 is elevated for one step. The indicator plate 2t) isthus lowered by three steps to display 3 in the window 23, and theslidable plate 8 is elevated by three steps.

The above described operation is repeated for every passage of the unitrental period thereby to indicated digits 6 and 9 successively in thewindow 23.

d. When the rental locker is to be opened, coins of a numbercorresponding to the digit displayed in the window 23 are dropped intothe coin inlet. Upon detection of the coins, the slidable plate 8descends, turning the indicator operating lever 16 clockwisely, wherebythe indicator plate 20 is successively elevated until 0 is displayed inthe window 23. At the same time, the coin number setting plate 46 islowered successively until the uppermost tooth 50a is brought into theengageable range of the pin 51 on the cam plate 52, and the blockinglever 30 is released thereby to allow the rental locker to be opened bythe use of its key.

As will be apparent from the above detailed description of theinvention, the arm length of the indicator operating lever 16 can bevaried by varying the preset position of the coin number setting pin 42along the lever 16 so that the pin 42 engages in a desired one of thecoin number setting holes 43, 44, and 45, whereby the number of coinsrequired for a unit length of the rental period can be changed asdesired without changing the engaging positions of the pin 51 on the camplate 52 and the rack teeth 50 of the coin number setting plate 46.Under the presetting of the engaging pin 42 in a desired one of the coinnumber setting holes 43, 44, and 45, the operating distances of theslidable plate 8 and the indicator plate 20 can be changed, whereby therental locker can be preset to a desired rental charge for a rentalperiod.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to apreferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications may be carried outtherein. For instance, the coin number setting pin 42 and the coinnumber setting holes 43, 44, and 45 provided on the indicator operatinglever 16 and in the coin number setting plate 46, respectively, may bemodified in such a manner that the coin number setting pin is providedon the coin number setting plate 46 and the coin number setting holesare provided in the indicator operating lever 16. Furthermore, therental period which has been described to expire at 0 oclock, midnight,may be changed to a rental period of a predetermined hours starting fromthe instant of start of the usage.

I claim:

l. A rental locker system of the type rendered lockable with a key bydropping a required number of coins into a coin inlet and laterunlockable with the same key comprising: a lock mechanism adapted to belocked or unlocked by said key", indication means indicating the numberof coins required for locking or unlocking said lock mechanism; coindetection means for detecting the coins actually dropped; control meansfor controlling the lock mechanism in locking or unlocking; a slidableplate operating through said control means when the coin detection meansdetects coins of a number indicated in said indication means to placethe locking mechanism in a lockable state; an operating lever rotatablearound a pivotal point in cooperation with said slidable plate; and acoin number setting plate engaging with said operating lever at aposition selectively changeable, whereby when the coin number settingplate is operated by an unlocking action of the user, the

operation is transmitted through said operating'lever to said slidableplate, whereby the coin number required for a rental period can bechanged by selectively changing the engaging position of said indicatoroperating lever and said coin number setting plate.

2. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operatinglever is further intercoupled with said indication means in a mannersuch that the number of coins required for locking or unlocking saidlocking mechanism is indicated in accordance with the actual position ofsaid slidable plate.

3. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidindication means includes an indicating plate bearing digitssuccessively displayed through a window.

4. A rental locker system as set forth in claim ll wherein said lockingmechanism comprises a cylinder lock having a latch member engageablewith a slit in the door of the rental locker and a blocking lever foroperating cooperatively with said control means.

5. A rental locker system as set forth in claim il wherein said controlmeans is a control lever rotatable about a pivotal point with one endthereof being detachably engaged with said slidable plate and other endthereof being engageable with a blocking lever of said lockingmechanism.

6. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slidableplate includes a toothed rack portion engaging with said coin detectingmeans, a portion allowing said control means to block the lockingmovement of said locking mechanism, and another portion defining themovement of said operating lever, whereby when the slidable plate ismoved in correspondence ,with each detection of coins dropped into saidcoin inlet, said operating lever is rotated, and said coin numbersetting plate is caused to descend in correspondence with the detectednumber of coins.

7. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein cam meansrotated by driving means is further intercoupled with said coin numbersetting plate, and said driving means is so controlled that when theuser of the locker unlocks the locking mechanism, the coin numbersetting plate is thereby elevated by one step,

and the slidable plate is moved by a distance corresponding to thenumber of coins required for a rental period preset by said engagingposition of said operating lever and said coin number setting plate.

8. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slidableplate is caused to descend by a distance corresponding to a detectednumber of coins dropped into said coin inlet, and elevated by a distancecorresponding to a preset number of coins required for a rental period.

9. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidindication means is so interlinked with said slidable plate that when anumber of coins corresponding to a number indicated by said indicationmeans are dropped into said coin inlet, said slidable plate is caused todescend to its lowest position, and the control means thereby allows thelocking movement of said locking mechanism.

M). A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein timer meansis incorporated, and whenever the timer means operates, said coin numbersetting plate is elevated by one step, whereby the slidable plate ismoved by a distance corresponding to the number of coins preset for arental period.

RE. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a coinretaining means is incorporated in connection with a coin passagedownstream of said coin detecting means, and said coin retaining meansis so constructed that coins passed through the coin detecting means arestacked in the coin thicknesswise direction in said coin retainingmeans.

12. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said coinretaining means comprises a coin retaining tube having a lower endopening and a horizontally swingable cover provided at said lower endopenmg.

13. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidhorizontally swingable cover is opened in cooperation with saidelevating movement of said coin number setting plate, whereby the coinsstacked in the coin retaining tube are temporarily retained thereinuntil the end cover is swung open. =l l l=

1. A rental locker system of the type rendered lockable with a key by dropping a required number of coins into a coin inlet and later unlockable with the same key comprising: a lock mechanism adapted to be locked or unlocked by said key; indication means indicating the number of coins required for locking or unlocking said lock mechanism; coin detection means for detecting the coins actually dropped; control means for controlling the lock mechanism in locking or unlocking; a slidable plate operating through said control means when the coin detection means detects coins of a number indicated in said indication means to place the locking mechanism in a lockable state; an operating lever rotatable around a pivotal point in cooperation with said slidable plate; and a coin number setting plate engaging with said operating lever at a position selectively changeable, whereby when the coin number setting plate is operated by an unlocking action of the user, the operation is transmitted through said operating lever to said slidable plate, whereby the coin number required for a rental period can be changed by selectively changing the engaging position of said indicator operating lever and said coin number setting plate.
 2. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operating lever is further intercoupled with said indication means in a manner such that the number of coins required for locking or unlocking said locking mechanism is indicated in accordance with the actual position of said slidable plate.
 3. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said indication means includes an indicating plate bearing digits successively displayed through a window.
 4. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein saiD locking mechanism comprises a cylinder lock having a latch member engageable with a slit in the door of the rental locker and a blocking lever for operating cooperatively with said control means.
 5. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means is a control lever rotatable about a pivotal point with one end thereof being detachably engaged with said slidable plate and other end thereof being engageable with a blocking lever of said locking mechanism.
 6. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slidable plate includes a toothed rack portion engaging with said coin detecting means, a portion allowing said control means to block the locking movement of said locking mechanism, and another portion defining the movement of said operating lever, whereby when the slidable plate is moved in correspondence with each detection of coins dropped into said coin inlet, said operating lever is rotated, and said coin number setting plate is caused to descend in correspondence with the detected number of coins.
 7. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein cam means rotated by driving means is further intercoupled with said coin number setting plate, and said driving means is so controlled that when the user of the locker unlocks the locking mechanism, the coin number setting plate is thereby elevated by one step, and the slidable plate is moved by a distance corresponding to the number of coins required for a rental period preset by said engaging position of said operating lever and said coin number setting plate.
 8. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slidable plate is caused to descend by a distance corresponding to a detected number of coins dropped into said coin inlet, and elevated by a distance corresponding to a preset number of coins required for a rental period.
 9. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indication means is so interlinked with said slidable plate that when a number of coins corresponding to a number indicated by said indication means are dropped into said coin inlet, said slidable plate is caused to descend to its lowest position, and the control means thereby allows the locking movement of said locking mechanism.
 10. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein timer means is incorporated, and whenever the timer means operates, said coin number setting plate is elevated by one step, whereby the slidable plate is moved by a distance corresponding to the number of coins preset for a rental period.
 11. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 1 wherein a coin retaining means is incorporated in connection with a coin passage downstream of said coin detecting means, and said coin retaining means is so constructed that coins passed through the coin detecting means are stacked in the coin thicknesswise direction in said coin retaining means.
 12. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 11 wherein said coin retaining means comprises a coin retaining tube having a lower end opening and a horizontally swingable cover provided at said lower end opening.
 13. A rental locker system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said horizontally swingable cover is opened in cooperation with said elevating movement of said coin number setting plate, whereby the coins stacked in the coin retaining tube are temporarily retained therein until the end cover is swung open. 